主播大秀

We all have precious but purposeless objects which hold great personal value but are often sat gathering dust or hidden away in our homes. Saved and Remade on 主播大秀 Two and 主播大秀 iPlayer celebrates loved but unused items by transforming them into beautiful bespoke pieces with the help of highly skilled master craftspeople. The wonderful team of re-makers share secrets designed to inspire you to get creative and showcase sentimental objects…

It’s common sense but when planning a remake it often pays to keep the design simple so don’t overcomplicate things, especially if it’s your first attempt. Only you will know what you’re comfortable with so identify your level of ability and work to your strengths whether it’s DIY, painting or textiles.

Rob Fawcett believes the secret to a good upcycle is strong detail. “I think some of the best remakes I’ve seen keep the design quite simple but ensure the finish is top class. For example, many objects can be transformed into a lamp but not just any ordinary lamp, you can really take it to the next level by thinking about the type of bulb you use, the cable, and you can even match the colour down to the plug.”

The sentimental objects in our lives often hold a lot of history and can be considered precious to more than one person. If you have something in your possession that you would like to remake ensure that you consult others who may also hold a personal attachment before you tackle the transformation and make significant changes. You may even gain further inspiration by discussing the history of the item and what it meant to each and every person involved. A single item can always be shared and repurposed into many different objects as demonstrated on the programme with Xinhua’s Chinese dowry box which was transformed into stunning separate boxes for her daughters.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with colour. The joy of a remake is you have free reign to completely transform something and colour is a great way to do this and create real impact.

Shelley Crossley explains paint is quite versatile: “We often have unused paint stored in our home which is incredibly versatile and can be used to transform many different materials so have a go with what’s available to you rather than buying new. I would recommend testing a small area to make sure you are happy with the colour and seal with wax or varnish if necessary.”

Rob Fawcett adds: “You don’t actually have to leave your home to test colour these days. Obviously, tester pots are great if you already have some to hand but you can actually research colour online. If you have a specific colour in mind simply use one of the many paint forums to see what others have created, you’ll just need the name of the paint. I also find Instagram and Pinterest fantastic for this, you’ll be truly inspired after seeing what everyone else has painted.”

The sky is the limit and possibilities are endless so feel free to use your imagination and take inspiration from the things you love, maybe you have a favourite artist, colour, or designer or perhaps you need something functional in your home such as storage.

Elizabeth Knowles explains that we can all be creative: “You can find inspiration all around you, you just need to look for it. You could be in a local restaurant and be taken with the shape of the furniture, you could be influenced by certain colour palettes, or simply out for a walk and fall in love with nature. We are surrounded by beautiful things and we can often incorporate elements into our remakes to update and enjoy in our homes. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Saved and Remade celebrates shared knowledge and brings together the varied skills of master craftspeople.

Rob Fawcett says: “You can learn so much from watching online tutorials that provide a step-by-step guide for a whole array of crafts. I would always say, don’t be afraid to have a go. It’s important to remember that many of our most precious items are stuck in drawers and some of the materials we repurpose are often things many people would probably throw away. It’s very important to plan your remake and work to your strengths but we call all learn new skills and practice makes perfect.”

Shelley adds: “We never truly stop learning and that’s what I really enjoyed about working on the programme, I came away with lots of inspiration from the other re-makers. You may have a friend who is a dab hand with a sewing machine whilst you may be a DIY pro so you can always swap skills. If you want to develop skills further than you can always check out a class in your local area. The upcycling community is always on hand to share tips and tricks so don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

You can mix and match materials to achieve something completely bespoke. We often have broken furniture gathering dust in the house so think about what features you like from each piece and how they could complement each other and be incorporated into one unique piece.

Shelley Crossley is a big fan of mixing different materials. “The concept of creative reuse enables us to experiment and work with different materials. The furniture in my home is a real eclectic mix; an old drum is now a lovely coffee table, a headboard transformed into mailbox storage, and our TV unit is made from old joists from my first flat. You certainly don’t need everything to match to create a lovely space.”

Rob Fawcett adds: “Again, it’s back to the detail but you can totally transform a boring piece of wood by introducing different materials such as adding some metal accents whether it be intricate corners or sturdy industrial legs to a table.”

A remake is a bit like a recipe so you should approach it step-by-step to achieve the desired result. Your much-loved items are irreplaceable so take time to plan and think the project through.

Rob Fawcett believes planning is the key to a good remake. “You should really take time to visualise what you want to achieve and a basic sketch can provide a great reference point to ensure you stay on track. A top tip is to always make sure you have the necessary equipment to hand before you start. Obviously, every task requires different tools but my basics would include a hammer, screwdriver set, quality paintbrushes and a tape measure. Oh and always measure twice, you don’t want to end up with something that is the wrong size for the space.”

Elizabeth Knowles adds: “You can achieve great results with a very modest sewing machine so you really don’t need to spend a lot of money. If you plan what you require and create a basic sewing kit then you’ll prepared to tackle most textile tasks and will slowly build confidence.”

We are all guilty of holding onto too many objects but some are truly irreplaceable so always be mindful when storing your precious but purposeless items as you can cause irreversible damage when stored incorrectly. The old photographs we hold so dear can fade over time so store away from sunlight with parchment paper and try not to handle too often. The wedding dress that holds so many memories should be stored somewhere dry so avoid damp spaces.

Shelley suggests a memory box could be a solution: “Obviously, some of our precious items are rather large and will require significant storage space but a memory box would serve well for other objects such as clothing, children’s drawings, family photos and those trinkets we love so much.”

The joy of a remake is it can be completely sustainable by using materials you have in your home.

Elizabeth Knowles says: “We all have material around the home that can easily be repurposed whether it’s children’s clothes or a favourite dress that no longer fits. A simple remake could be turning much-loved garment into a cushion that can be enjoyed in your home. You really can do so much with unwanted items with a bit of ingenuity. I make an effort to use whatever I have to hand and I’m a big fan of mixing traditional and contemporary modern pieces to create something new.”

The world of upcycling is connected more than ever with the rise in popularity of online forums and social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. You can pretty much search for anything and discover an online tutorials which provide a step-by-step guide. You’ll find shared knowledge is at the heart of the online upcycling community so feel free to ask questions and benefit from others knowledge, it’s all about having a go when you start out.

Saved and Remade invites professional craftspeople from different specialisms to pitch one-of-a-kind remakes which are often drastically different.

Rob believes the beauty of a remake is that you can make it completely unique: “It’s cliché but always think outside the box when planning your remake, an old chair doesn’t have to remain a chair. I was truly inspired by some of the items bought to us on the programme, a favourite of mine was an old tea trolley that was remade into a lovely coat stand with storage which ensured the precious item now had real purpose and would be used for years to come.”